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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Hajar Mraiti (FSJES Marrakech - Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales-Marrakech); Ouafa Hicham (FSJES Marrakech - Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales-Marrakech); Driss Omerani (FSJES Marrakech - Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales-Marrakech) |
| Abstract: | Abstract : The aim of this study is to explore the expectations of individuals with regard to the Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik contract for car financing in Morocco, and to identify the factors that may stimulate demand for this Islamic financing product. To do this, we opted for a quantitative approach based on a questionnaire administered to a sample of 100 Moroccan individuals. However, due to the small sample size, the results obtained cannot be generalized to the entire Moroccan population.The results reveal a growing interest in the Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik financial instrument, provided it is offered at a competitive price. However, religious conviction is a determining factor for some individuals, prompting them to accept a slightly higher cost in return for financing in line with the principles of Islamic finance.Nonetheless, this study is a first step in the reflection on the adaptation of the Ijāra Muntahiya Bitamlik contract to the needs of individuals in the automotive sector in Morocco. Keywords: Islamic finance, Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik, Automobile financing, Religious compliance.Classification JEL: G21 Paper type: Empirical Research |
| Abstract: | Résumé : L'objectif de cette étude est d'explorer les attentes des particuliers vis-à-vis du contrat Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik en matière de financement automobiles au Maroc, et d'identifier les facteurs qui peuvent stimuler la demande de ce produit de financement islamique. Pour ce faire, nous avons opté pour une approche quantitative basée sur un questionnaire administré à un échantillon de 100 particuliers marocains. Toutefois, en raison de la taille restreinte de l'échantillon, les résultats obtenus ne sauraient être généralisés à l'ensemble de la population marocaine.Les résultats révèlent un intérêt croissant pour l'instrument financier Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik, à condition qu'il soit proposé à un prix compétitif. Toutefois, la conviction religieuse constitue un facteur déterminant pour certains particuliers, les incitant à accepter un coût légèrement plus élevé en contrepartie d'un financement conforme aux principes de la finance islamique.Cette étude constitue néanmoins une première étape pour alimenter la réflexion sur l'adaptation du contrat Ijāra Muntahiya Bitamlik aux besoins des particuliers dans le secteur automobile au Maroc. Mots clés : Finance islamique, Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik, financement automobile, Conformité religieuse. JEL Classification : G21 Type du papier : Recherche empirique |
| Keywords: | Finance islamique Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik financement automobile Conformité religieuse. JEL Classification : G21 Type du papier : Recherche empirique Islamic finance Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik Automobile financing Religious compliance. Classification JEL: G21 Paper type: Empirical Research, Finance islamique, Ijаrа Mоuntahiya Bitаmlik, financement automobile |
| Date: | 2025–08–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05228604 |
| By: | Olfa Daghsni (RED-ISGG - Recherche, Entreprises et décision - ISGGB - Institut Supérieur de Gestion de Gabès (Université de Gabès)); Jamel Eddine Henchiri (RED-ISGG - Recherche, Entreprises et décision - ISGGB - Institut Supérieur de Gestion de Gabès (Université de Gabès)) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this research is to ensure the factors that influence the attitude of SMEs towards Islamic banking services. The data of 28 entrepreneurs of SMEs were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire using a random sampling technique. This study uses a theoretical model based on the theory of planned behavior. To analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis techniques are used. The study has found significant impact of the quality of service, knowledge of Islamic finance, religious belief and support for business on the attitude towards Islamic banking, among SMEs in the south- west region of Tunisia. The results identify important factors that Islamic can use to update their strategies to attract potential customers and expand their customer base by adopting innovative financial solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). |
| Keywords: | The South West Region of Tunisia, Attitude, Theory of Planned Behavior, MENA, small business, Tunisia, SME Financing, Mena region, Small And Medium Sized Enterprises |
| Date: | 2025–03–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05252681 |
| By: | Zahra Ait Bahadou (UH2C - Université Hassan II de Casablanca = University of Hassan II Casablanca = جامعة الحسن الثاني (ar)); Mesrar Asmaa (UH2C - Université Hassan II de Casablanca = University of Hassan II Casablanca = جامعة الحسن الثاني (ar)) |
| Abstract: | This study examines the factor structure and reliability of the affective organizational commitment scale in the Moroccan context. The main objective is to validate the scale with Moroccan employees by examining the representation of the affective dimension. A quantitative approach was adopted using principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The PCA analysis revealed that the affective dimension is divided into two components: Affective commitment and non-affective commitment. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit, suggesting opportunities to improve the scale's accuracy in future research. These results underline the importance of the scale for measuring affective organizational commitment in the Moroccan context. |
| Abstract: | Cette étude porte sur la structure factorielle et la fiabilité de l'échelle d'engagement organisationnel affectif dans le contexte marocain. L'objectif principal est de valider l'échelle auprès des employés marocains en examinant la représentation de la dimension affective. Une approche quantitative a été adoptée en utilisant l'analyse en composantes principales (ACP) et l'analyse factorielle confirmatoire (AFC). L'analyse ACP a révélé que la dimension affective est divisée en deux composantes : L'engagement affectif et l'engagement non affectif. Par la suite, l'analyse factorielle confirmatoire a indiqué une bonne adéquation du modèle, suggérant des possibilités d'améliorer la précision de l'échelle dans le cadre de recherches futures. Ces résultats soulignent l'importance de l'échelle pour mesurer l'engagement organisationnel affectif dans le contexte marocain. |
| Keywords: | CFA., PCA, African Context, Multidimensional Approach, Affective Commitment, AFC., ACP, Contexte africain, Approche multidimensionnelle, Engagement affectif |
| Date: | 2025–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05197811 |
| By: | Hafsa Ouhbi (Ph.D. student, Laboratory of Economics and Management of Organizations (LAREMO), National School of Commerce and Management. Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.); Abdeslam Boudhar (Researcher and Lecturer, Laboratory of Economics and Management of Organizations (LAREMO), National School of Commerce and Management. Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco.) |
| Abstract: | This article addresses the theoretical challenges related to water sustainability in Morocco, adopting an approach based on the paradigms of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). It highlights several paradoxes and structural limitations within the water management system, offering theoretical recommendations based on the literature that are tailored to the country's climatic, social, and institutional contexts. One key theoretical conclusion concerns the excessive appropriation of water resources by agriculture, which accounts for up to 95% of withdrawals in some regions, despite contributing modestly to the national economy (around 13% of GDP). This dependency exposes the country to increased vulnerability due to the declining water resources, revealing a structural imbalance in water management. The article also highlights a paradox in the Green Morocco Plan. The adoption of more efficient irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation, which is 100% subsidized, has paradoxically led to an increase in total water consumption. This phenomenon, known as the Jevons paradox, arises from the combination of increased agricultural productivity and intensified water use, particularly for exportoriented crops. The theoretical analysis further reveals that, despite the modernization of the legal framework (Law 36-15) and the adoption of IWRM, the inefficacy of reforms is linked to institutional fragmentation, poor coordination among stakeholders, and inadequate regulatory enforcement. These institutional deficits hinder sustainable water management and contribute to issues such as overexploitation of groundwater. Finally, a significant social and economic dimension emerges from the analysis, as public policies appear to favor large commercial farms over small farmers and local communities, exacerbating social inequalities. The article concludes that to ensure water sustainability in Morocco, it is essential to rethink agricultural economic incentives, improve intersectoral governance, and ensure greater social equity in water access. |
| Abstract: | Cet article aborde les défis théoriques liés à la durabilité de l'eau au Maroc en adoptant une approche basée sur les paradigmes de la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE). Il met en évidence plusieurs paradoxes et limitations structurelles du système de gestion de l'eau, tout en proposant des recommandations théoriques fondées sur la littérature, adaptées aux contextes climatique, social et institutionnel du pays. Une première conclusion théorique porte sur l'appropriation excessive des ressources en eau par l'agriculture, qui représente jusqu'à 95% des prélèvements dans certaines régions, malgré une contribution modeste à l'économie nationale (environ 13% du PIB). Cette dépendance expose le pays à une vulnérabilité accrue face à la diminution des ressources en eau, soulignant un déséquilibre structurel dans la gestion de cette ressource vitale. En analysant le Plan Maroc Vert, l'article met en évidence un paradoxe lié à l'adoption de technologies d'irrigation plus efficaces, comme l'irrigation goutte-à-goutte, qui, bien que subventionnée à 100%, a paradoxalement conduit à une augmentation de la consommation d'eau. Ce phénomène, connu sous le nom de paradoxe de Jevons, découle de la combinaison d'une productivité agricole accrue avec une utilisation d'eau toujours plus intense, notamment pour les cultures orientées vers l'exportation. L'analyse théorique révèle également que malgré la modernisation du cadre législatif (loi 36- 15) et l'adoption de la GIRE, l'inefficacité des réformes est liée à une fragmentation institutionnelle, une coordination insuffisante des acteurs et une réglementation souvent peu appliquée. Ces déficits institutionnels empêchent une gestion durable de l'eau, contribuant à des problèmes comme l'exploitation excessive des nappes phréatiques. Enfin, une dimension sociale et économique importante émerge de l'analyse, car les politiques publiques semblent favoriser les grandes exploitations commerciales au détriment des petits agriculteurs et des communautés locales, exacerbant ainsi les inégalités sociales. L'article conclut que pour garantir la durabilité de l'eau au Maroc, il est nécessaire de repenser les incitations économiques agricoles, d'améliorer la gouvernance intersectorielle et de garantir une plus grande équité sociale dans l'accès à l'eau. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable Water Management, Water policy, Climate change, Water Challenges, Water Scarcity in Morocco |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05219597 |
| By: | Shokry, Nada; Jovanovic, Nina; Kurdi, Sikandra; Hamdy, Adham; Elkaramany, Mohamed |
| Abstract: | Key messages Parliamentarians, researchers, and development practitioners shared perspectives on the double burden of malnutrition in Egypt in roundtable discussions. Infrastructure gaps and policy and research strategy fragmentation are highlighted as challenges to accessibility of healthy food. Aggressive ads/media environment and inefficient nutrition education programs are regarded as negatively impacting consumer behavior. Economic factors are widely identified as a major driver of malnutrition. Recommended solutions include raising nutrition literacy, transitioning from food subsidies to vouchers, improving nutrition services infrastructure, taxing unhealthy foods, and fortifying staple foods. Participants called for continued dialogue between researchers and policymakers. |
| Keywords: | malnutrition; infrastructure; foods; policies; obesity; poverty; wasting disease (nutritional disorder); Egypt; Africa; Northern Africa |
| Date: | 2025–08–21 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:menapn:176182 |
| By: | International Monetary Fund |
| Abstract: | Since the pandemic, the Algerian economy has rebounded, driven by high hydrocarbon prices and public spending, especially ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Nonetheless, the economy remains vulnerable to its overreliance on hydrocarbons, exposing public finances to global price volatility. President Tebboune’s re-election in 2024 signals continued fiscal expansion to support households and investment, aligned with the 2021 Government Action Plan’s goals of diversification and sustainability. However, Algeria’s state-led, hydrocarbon-dependent model creates economic distortions that constrain private sector growth and job creation. Long-term resilience and inclusive growth will require deep structural reforms to shift toward a more open, private-sector-driven economy. Recent efforts to diversify and attract investment are positive steps, but realizing Algeria’s potential will require bold action to address governance, competitiveness, and fiscal sustainability challenges. |
| Date: | 2025–09–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfscr:2025/270 |
| By: | Hajare El Hadri (Marie and Louis Pasteur University, Orléans University); Réda Marakbi (Artois University, University of Lille) |
| Abstract: | This study develops a new theoretical framework to explain how secularity influences migration aspirations in the Arab world. We argue that secular individuals incur significant psychological costs when living in highly religious societies. This value incongruence pushes them to seek out more secular environments, whereas strongly religious individuals face higher cultural costs of moving and thus prefer to stay. We derive testable hypotheses on how individual secularity and socio-political secularity act as push–pull factors for different communities and migration destinations. We then test these hypotheses using 2018–2019 Arab Barometer data from eleven MENA countries. We construct original indices for individual secularity and socio-political secularity via multiple correspondence analysis. Consistent with our theory, probit and instrumental- variable probit estimates show that secular individuals are significantly more likely to express intentions to emigrate – particularly to highly secular Western countries. Among Muslim majority populations, both individual and socio-political secularity increase the desire to migrate, whereas among Christian minorities only individual secularity has this effect. Moreover, secularity drives regular migration aspirations, with no measurable im- pact on irregular migration except in the case of religiously unaffiliated “nones, †who exhibit a heightened willingness to migrate by any means. These findings contribute to the migration literature by emphasizing the substantial, yet previously underexplored, influence of secular beliefs and practices on migratory behavior in the Arab context. |
| Keywords: | Arabworld, migration, religiosity, secularity |
| JEL: | F J |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inf:wpaper:2025.11 |
| By: | International Monetary Fund |
| Abstract: | 2025 Selected Issues |
| Date: | 2025–09–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfscr:2025/271 |
| By: | Silvia Domit; Yomna Gaafar; Duncan MacDonald; Ms. Carolina Osorio-Buitron |
| Abstract: | Despite recent progress, Türkiye’s low labor force participation (LFP) rate is macrocritical and stands out internationally. This paper examines two channels through which fiscal policy can affect LFP. First, we estimate the impact of Türkiye’s 2022 Minimum Living Allowance reform, which removed tax disadvantages faced by secondary earners. Second, we simulate the impact of conditional subsidies on Türkiye’s LFP. The analysis was based on four empirical models estimated for Türkiye using labor force survey micro data. The results confirmed that: (i) Turkish secondary earners increased their labor supply by more than primary earners following the removal of tax disadvantages in the 2022 reform; (ii) conditional childcare subsidies lead to a large increase in LFP at relatively low fiscal costs; (iii) conditional subsidies can achieve better labor market outcomes and further reduce fiscal costs compared to direct transfers. |
| Keywords: | Türkiye; Tax Reform; Labor Force Participation; Childcare Subsidies; Employment; Personal Income Tax; TaxFit |
| Date: | 2025–09–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2025/187 |
| By: | Ziaoddini, Kajwan |
| Abstract: | In November 2024, Iranian musicians Ali Akbar Moradi and Pejman Hadadi toured the US East Coast, performing compositions for the tanbur, a long-necked lute mainly used by the Yarsan followers in western Iran. Despite the largely identical musical content across the concerts, they were all labeled differently. In brochures, artists’ and emcees’ short introductions onstage, and more intimate chats after the concerts, their music might be identified as Iranian, Persian, Kurdish, and/or Yaresan. While some of these titles might be awkward or avoided in Iran due to sociopolitical concerns, they may be deemed suitable for promoting this music among American audiences or the Iranian diaspora in the United States. By comparing the different labels used during Moradi’s 2024 East Coast tour and the way his recordings have been categorized in Iran, this paper examines how labeling processes reflect broader sociopolitical concerns and constraints. Drawing on theories of situational identity (Hall 1996), I argue that social contexts determine not only the way Moradi’s music has been categorized but also the connotations the same category may evoke among different demographics within and outside Iran. In this study, I use participant observation and unstructured interviews with artists and facilitators during and after the events, as well as investigating the labels used for Moradi’s previous recordings in online music streaming databases. This study shows how a seemingly innocuous concert series can serve as a lens for understanding Iran's complex sociopolitical landscape, ethnic/national factions, and ideological perspectives. |
| Date: | 2025–09–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:gfmvb_v1 |
| By: | Caridi-Ross, Siena; Mumtaz, Zahid |
| Abstract: | Welfare regime theory remains a central framework in social policy literature, valued for its theoretical insights and policy relevance. However, as this framework is increasingly applied to countries in the Global South, scholars have questioned whether all contexts fit neatly into the established welfare regime types. Recent contributions suggest adopting a hybrid lens, which recognizes that welfare arrangements often vary within the same country, with different populations experiencing distinct forms of social protection. This study contributes to this evolving debate by exploring the development of Iraq’s welfare system and proposing a hybrid classification within the welfare regime framework. We argue that Iraq functions as a hybrid welfare regime, where access to welfare and social protection is unevenly distributed across different segments of society. In doing so, the study extends welfare regime theory by classifying Iraq as a case of hybrid welfare regime and highlights the importance of hybrid welfare models for understanding welfare systems in the Global South. |
| Keywords: | welfare regime; security; hybridization; conflict; Iraq; informal |
| JEL: | N0 |
| Date: | 2025–09–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:129596 |
| By: | Nomane Chafi (FSJES TANGER - faculté des sciences juridiques economiques et sociales de Tanger); Abderrahman Saddiki; R’ghioui Noman |
| Abstract: | In a context shaped by the accelerating digitalization of markets and the rapid advancement of technologies, artificial intelligence is emerging as a strategic lever for rethinking marketing approaches. This study adopts an exploratory perspective to assess the impact of AI on marketing strategies within the social and solidarity economy. It examines the transformations driven by AI in segmentation, targeting, personalization, and campaign automation. While large corporations have the technical means to capitalize on these innovations, SSE organizations often struggle to adopt them due to structural, financial, and organizational constraints. Based on a literature review and emerging use cases, the research proposes a conceptual cooperative for integrating AI into marketing strategies in ways that are ethical, inclusive, and tailored to the specificities of the SSE sector. The findings indicate that successful integration relies as much on technology as on capacity building, targeted support mechanisms, and cooperation between public and private actors, paving the way for a sustainable and equitable digital transformation. |
| Abstract: | Dans un contexte marqué par la digitalisation croissante des marchés et l'évolution rapide des technologies, l'intelligence artificielle s'impose comme un levier stratégique pour repenser les approches marketing des organisations. Cet article s'inscrit dans une perspective exploratoire visant à analyser l'impact de l'IA sur les stratégies marketing, notamment dans le cadre de l'économie sociale et solidaire. Elle met en lumière les transformations induites par l'intégration de l'IA dans les pratiques de segmentation, de ciblage, de personnalisation et d'automatisation des campagnes. Si les grandes entreprises disposent déjà de moyens techniques pour tirer profit de ces innovations, les structures de l'ESS, telles que les coopératives, peinent à s'approprier ces outils en raison de contraintes structurelles, financières et organisationnelles. À travers une revue de la littérature et des cas d'usage émergents, cette étude propose un cadre conceptuel pour intégrer l'IA dans les stratégies marketing de manière éthique, inclusive et adaptée aux spécificités du secteur solidaire. Les résultats montrent que le succès de cette intégration dépend autant des technologies que du renforcement des compétences, de dispositifs d'accompagnement ciblés et de la coopération entre acteurs publics et privés, ouvrant la voie à une transformation numérique durable et équitable |
| Keywords: | Digital marketing, Marketing Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, Marketing digital cooperative, stratégie marketing, Intelligence artificielle, coopérative |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05221047 |
| By: | Tariq Eldakruri; Edip Senyurek |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the economic feasibility of replacing human labor with robotics and automation in Qatar's manufacturing and service sectors. By analyzing labor costs, productivity gains, and implementation expenses, the study assesses the potential financial impact and return on investment of robotic integration. Results indicate the sectors where automation is economically viable and identify challenges related to workforce adaptation, policy, and infrastructure. These insights provide guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders considering automation strategies in Qatar. |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2509.10152 |